Stamp-affixing machine.



G. G. LANPHEAR.

STAMP AFPIXING MACHINE.

- APPLIOATIOI; FILED mm. 20, 1912.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Attorneys CURTIS C. LANPHEAR, OF MILES CITY, MONTANA.

STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 191 3.

Application filed December 20, 1912. Serial No. 737,913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CURTIS C. LANPHEAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Miles City, in the county of Custer and State of Montana,have invented a new and useful Stamp-Affixing Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention appertains to stamp afiixing machines, and aimsprimarily to provide a device of that character which will enable stampsto be aflixed to envelops, post-cards and the like in a facile andexpeditious manner.

This invention also contemplates the production of a device of thecharacter specified which shall be comparatively simple, compact andinexpensive in construction, as well as efficient, simple, serviceableand convenient in its use.

As a more specific object, the present invention aims to provide a stampaffixing member embodying a spring returned plunger for pressing thestamp on the envelop, post-card or the like, and a pair of feed rollersfor delivering a strip of stamps over a shear blade cooperating with ashear blade carried by th-e'plunger, in connection with novel meansyieldably connected to the plunger for rotating one of the feed rollerswhen the plunger is depressed and means for stopping the movement of thesaid means before the shear blades sever the stamp that is to beaflixed.

It is the object of the present invention, by the provision of the meansyieldably connected to the plunger for rotating the feed rollers whenthe plunger is depressed and the means for stopping the movement of thesaid means, to permit of the adjustment of the device in order that thestrip of stamps will be properly fed to the cutting mechanism and thenstopped so that the shear blades will sever the stamp at the properpoint.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangements of parts and in the details of construct-ion hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention has been illustrated in its the accompanying Referringspecifically to the drawing, the present device embodies a frame orskeleton body, preferably cast from suitable metal,

and including a base or bed 4 on which the envelops and post-cards aredesigned to be placed. The forward portion 5 of the surface of the baseis flat so as to be adapted to have the envelop or post card placedthereon, and at one corner of the base, the same is provided with ananvil block 6, preferably in the form of a cushion or buffer constructedof rubber or other like material.

Above the anvil block 6, the body or frame is provided with averticalplunger guide or casing 7, the lower end of which is open and the upperend of which is closed, and a water receptacle 8 is arranged on one sideof the casing 7, the receptacle and easing or guide being preferablyintegral so as have a common wall or partition. The top of the waterreceptacle is provided with a hinged closure 9, thus permitting thereceptacle to be filled or supplied with water from time to time, andthe bottom of the receptacle slopes to a point above one edge of theanvil block 6. The water receptacle is providedwith an opening or slot10 directly above the edge of the anvil block, and a flat moistener 11passes through the opening 10. This moistener 11 depends slightly fromthe water receptacle over the free end of a leaf spring or resilientguide the ends opposite 12 secure on the base, the envelop or post Icard being adapted to be inserted in under the moistener 11 and over theanvil block and the spring or guide 12 serving to assure the brushing ofthe letter or postcard against the moistener so as to moisten the same.

A plunger 13 is mounted for vertical re ciproc'ato-ry movements in thecasing or guide 7, the plunger and easing being rectangular in crosssection and of such dimensions to accommodate the standard size ofpostage stamp. The plunger 13 is provided with an upstanding stem ltpassing through the upper end of the casing 7 and bearing a header knob15 on its upper end, a coiled lot wire compression spring 16 beingarranged on the stem between the head and the casing 7 so as toyieldably support the plunger.

The spring 16 serves to return the plunger after the plunger has beendepressed, as will *more clearly-appear hereinafter.

A shear blade or cutting knife 18 is se cured to the rear side ofthe'plunger 13, and

cooperates with a shear blade or cutting knife 19 secured on the baseadjoining the rear edge of the anvil block '6. 'Aslot or opening 20 isprovided above theshearblade 19 under which a strip of stamps is adaptedto be projected by a suitable'feeding mechanism 1 hereinafter described.'When the plunger is depressed, the cutting edge of the shear blade 18is adapted to pass the cutting edge of the shear blade 19'so as to severthe stamp, the stamp then being pressed onto the corner of the envelopor post card inserted above the anvilblock 6. It is prefplane in whichthe opening or slot 20 lies,

and the said rollers being loosely mounted on .the respective shafts 23and 24. The

ameter than the latter one.

. therein.

shafts 23 and 24 are suitably supported by the frame and are journaledfor rotation An idle gear 25 is mounted on the lower shaft 23 and mesheswith a spur gear 26 secured on the shaft 24. The spur gears 25 and 26are located at one end of the feed rollers, the former gear being largerin di- An arm 27 is secured to the shaft 24 at the other end of the feedroller 22 and carries a spring pressed pawl 28 which engages a ratchetwheel 29 secured to the end of the roller 22. Thus, as the shaft 24 isrotated in the op- I posite directions, the feed roller 22 will beadvanced or rotated in one direction only,

as will be apparent.

A-yielding connection is provided between the idle spur gear 25 and theplunger in order that the feed roller 22 may be actuated by thedepression of the plunger, this connection embodying a rack bar 30intermeshing with the spur gear 25 and having a pair of eyes 31 looselyembracing a spindle 32 depending from the head 15 of the plunger 10. Acollar 33 is secured to the spindle 32 between the eyes 31 and isadapted to normally contact with the upper eye 31 so as to support therack bar 30, a coiled wire compression spring 34 being disposed betweenthe collar 33 and the lower eye 31 so as to yieldably force the rack bar30 downward with the spindle '32 when the plunger is depressed. The rackbar 30 is also provided with an elongated slot 35 through which the pin36 engages, the pin 36 serving to guide the rack bar and limit theupward movement of the rack bar.

As a means for limiting or stopping the movement of the rack bar 30, thestop screw 37 is screw threaded upwardly through an ear 38 projectingfrom the base 4 directly below the rack bar 30. Thus, by adjusting thestop screw 37, the downward movement of the rack bar 30 will be stoppedat the proper moment, or after the feed rollers have been rotatedsufiiciently to advance the strip of stamps the length of one stamp.Accordingly, by adjusting the stop screw 37, the length'of the stamp maybe regulated to a nicety, and therefore, the device may be preventedfrom cutting the stamps irregularly. The stop screw 37 is so disposed asto contact with the head 30 provided at the lower end of the rack bar 30prior to the meeting of the shear blades so that the strip of stamps maybe properly projected below the plunger prior to the severing or cuttingaction. It will also be manifest that the spring 34 will permit theplunger to descend the remainder of its downward stroke after the rackbar 30 and the feeding mechanism have been stopped so as to permit thestamp to be affixed or pressed against the envelop or post-card.

With a machine of the present character, it is preferable to provide thestamps in strips of any suiiicient length, and for this reason, therehas been provided a reel 39 mounted on a removable axle or spindle 40 inrear of the feed rollers, the strips of stamps being preferably rolledon the reel 39 as indicated by the numeral 41. It will be evident thatthe reel may be removed when the strip of stamps has become exhausted,so as to supply the device with a new roll of stamps.

In operation, the strip of stamps is threaded from the reel 39 betweenthe feed rollers and then into the slot 20 over the shear blade 19.Then, by placing the envelop or post card properly on the base byprojecting it below the moistener 11, the corner of the envelop or postcard will be dampened or moistened and will project over the anvil block6. The plunger may then be readily depressed by striking the head orknob 15. It will be apparent, that when the head or knob 15 isdepressed, the rack bar 30 will be depressed therewith so as to rotatethe upper feed roller 22, thereby causing the stamp to be projectedbelow the plunger and over the corner of the envelop or post card. Whenthe strip of stamps has been sufliciently fed forwardly, the lower endof the rack bar 20 will strike the stop screw 37, and the motion of thestrip of stamps will be retarded or arrested. The plunger, however, willcontinue its downwardmovement or stroke, the shear blade 18 severing thestamp so that the plunger will carry the stamp downward into position onthe moistened envelop or post card. The stamp is thus affixed, and afterthe head or knob 15 has been released, the envelop may be removed, theplunger and rack bar returning to initial or normal position by means ofthe springs 16 and 34:. The upward movement of the rack bar 30 will notaffect the feed rollers inasmuch as the reverse movement of the pawl ordog 28 will simply cause the same to ride or glide over the teeth of theratchet wheel 29. The feed rollers will rotate in unison in oppositedirections due to the fact that the strip of stamps passes tightlytherebetween, or in practice, the feed rollers will be in contact andwill preferably be suitably constructed of friction material to preventslipping. The present machine may therefore be employed for aflixingstamps to envelops, post cards and the like with ease and despatch.

The advantages of the present device will be apparent to those versed inthe art, it being noted that the objects aimed at have been carried outsatisfactorily, and that the present device provides a desirable one forthe purposes for which it is designed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In astamp affixing machine, a spring returned plunger, means for feeding astrip of stamps below the plunger, cutting means actuated by theplunger, a member operatively connected to the feeding means andyieldably connected to the plunger, and an adjustable stop for limitingthe movement of the said member.

2. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, an anvilblock thereinunder, means for feeding a strip of stamps below theplunger and including a gear, cutting means actuated by the plunger, arack bar meshing with the said gear, a connection between the plungerand rack bar for yieldably depressing the rack bar with the plunger andfor raising the rack bar with the plunger, and a stop for limiting themovement of the rack bar.

3. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, an anvilblock thereinunder, means for feeding a strip of stamps below theplunger and including a gear, cut ting means actuated by the plunger, amember movable with the plunger, 'a rack bar meshing with the said gearand slidably engaging the said member, means for yieldably moving therack bar with the said member, and a stop for limiting the move ment ofthe rack bar.

4. In a stamp affixing machine, a spring returned plunger, means forfeeding a strip of stamps below the plunger including a gear, cuttingmeans actuated by the plunger, a spindle carried by the plunger, a rackbar meshing with the said gearand having a pair of eyes looselyembracing the spindle, a coiled wire spring compressibly disposedbetween the spindle and the lower eye, and a stop for limiting thedownward movement of the rack bar.

5. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, a pair offeed rollers, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a rack baryieldably connected to the plunger, an adjustable stop for limiting themovement of the rack bar, a gear meshing with the rack bar, a ratchetwheel secured to one of the rollers, and a pawl actuated by the-gear andcooperating with the ratchet Wheel to advance the roller.

6. In a stamp aflixing machine, a spring returned plunger, a pair offeed rollers, cutting means actuated by the plunger, a rack baryieldably connected to the plunger, a pair of shafts on which therollers are loosely mounted, a gear wheel mounted on one shaft andmeshing with the rack bar, a gear secured on the other shaft and meshingwith the'aforesaid gear, an arm secured to the latter shaft, a springpressed pawl carried by the arm, a ratchet wheel secured to one of therollers and cooperating with the pawl, and a stop for the rack bar;

7. In a stamp aflixer, a spring returned stamp affixing plunger, meansfor feeding a strip of stamps below the plunger, cutting means actuatedby the plunger, a pair of slidably connected members, one member beingmovable with the plunger and the other member being operativelyconnected with the feeding means, a spring disposed between the saidmembers for yieldably advancing the last mentioned member when theplunger is depressed, and a stop for limiting the movement of the lastmentioned member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CURTIS C. LANPHEAR.

ESTHER BURBANK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

